# The FIU Research Center in a Minority Institution (FIU-RCMI)

> **NIH NIH U54** · FLORIDA INTERNATIONAL UNIVERSITY · 2022 · $4,060,933

## Abstract

FIU-RCMI Overall
Abstract
The Research Center in Minority Institutions at Miami-Dade's Florida International University (FIU-RCMI) is
supported by the largest NIH Award in the history of FIU. Since 2017, the FIU-RCMI has been devoted to
developing and sustaining a national, clinical and behavioral research program addressing health inequities
and disparities primarily associated with HIV and substance use problems. We have provided extensive
research support and training for early-stage investigators (ESIs), partnered with underserved communities to
develop and conduct research, and capitalized on our community connections to develop supplementary large-
scale research combatting health disparities. FIU, our emerging preeminent research program in health
disparities, our ESIs, and our South Florida minority community partners all have benefitted from the NIMHD-
funded FIU-RCMI. We are enthusiastic about submitting this competitive renewal proposal for our Center,
which builds upon our earlier achievements, refines our approaches to ESI mentoring, community research
partnership, and faculty recruitment, and broadens our scope. Our scientific focus areas will include basic
biomedical research, behavioral research and population science, and clinical/health services research, with
one R01-equivalent project in each area. During the initial funding cycle of the FIU-RCMI, we concentrated on
behavioral and clinical research primarily regarding HIV and substance use problems. More recently, with
supplemental research funding, the hiring of new investigators, and the growth of our pilot studies and
community research enhancement programs, FIU-RCMI research concentrations have grown to include
behavioral, clinical, population, and basic biomedical research regarding Alzheimer's Disease, COVID-19, app-
based HIV prevention approaches, farmworker agrochemical exposure, and precision cancer therapeutics. Our
competitive renewal proposal reflects this growth. The FIU-RCMI is well positioned relative to FIU's priorities,
long-range goals and vision for health-related research. Moreover, FIU's Health Inequities and Disparities
Program, of which the FIU-RCMI is a major component, has been designated by FIU as an Emerging
Preeminent Program. Overarching goals of our proposed Center renewal include: 1. enhancing institutional
research capacity, 2. increasing investigator success in obtaining competitive extramural research support, 3.
fostering an environment conducive to career development for ESIs, 4. disseminating research generally and
specifically for advancing minority health, and 5. establishing sustainable relationships with community-based
organizations.

## Key facts

- **NIH application ID:** 10556507
- **Project number:** 2U54MD012393-06
- **Recipient organization:** FLORIDA INTERNATIONAL UNIVERSITY
- **Principal Investigator:** ERIC F WAGNER
- **Activity code:** U54 (R01, R21, SBIR, etc.)
- **Funding institute:** NIH
- **Fiscal year:** 2022
- **Award amount:** $4,060,933
- **Award type:** 2
- **Project period:** 2017-09-20 → 2027-05-31

## Primary source

NIH RePORTER: https://reporter.nih.gov/project-details/10556507

## Citation

> US National Institutes of Health, RePORTER application 10556507, The FIU Research Center in a Minority Institution (FIU-RCMI) (2U54MD012393-06). Retrieved via AI Analytics 2026-05-24 from https://api.ai-analytics.org/grant/nih/10556507. Licensed CC0.

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